Kohlberg’s
theory of moral development serves as both a standard and a source of debate in
psychology (Olsen, (2011) & Tanner & Van Haaften, (2001)). Research holds that there are both
contributions to the field and limitations to this theory that pertain to the
applicability in universal settings (Nucci, 2002). Carol Gilligan openly refuted Kohlberg’s
findings citing that his sample group only includes males and this makes the
research biased according to Kyte (1996).
To better understand the theory, the research, and the importance of
Kohlberg’s theory, we will report on our review of current research.

Olsen
(2011) reports that Kohlberg developed a theory of moral development which
divided the moral development of people into six stages simply called stages
one through six. These stages were
further organized into three categories of two stages each, pre-conventional, conventional,
and post conventional. During the
pre-conventional category including stage one and two Kohlberg finds that
morality generally comes from what others such as caregivers or parents dictate
what is right and wrong. This means that
we take our moral cues from our world that is close around us in the first two
stages of moral development. These
pre-conventional stages furthered Piaget’s early lifespan research which
Kohlberg decided to develop in another direction (Olson, 2011).

The
conventional category shows that as we age and enter the second set of stages,
three and four, we branch out from our close rule abiding worlds into personal
relationships in moral development notes Olsen (2011). It is the cues that we
receive about moral behavior in this environment that influence our judgment of
what is right and wrong in these stages and we mold our behavior
accordingly. This set of stages remains
highly influential on the post conventional stage we enter next. Post
conventional moral development is the last category that Kohlberg discovered
during his longitudinal study. This occurs during stages five and six, and
encompasses both our sense of what is generally moral and right along with our
influences from our personal relationships and that recognized by society,
holds Olsen (2011).

Kohlberg’s
theory provided some contributions to the understanding of moral
development. His work provided the
groundwork for stages in moral development according to Tellings & Van
Haaften (2001). His work also provided
the ideas that moral development is universal even though there have been
challenges to this tenet, he opened the door for these challenges. His work has been transitioned into
educational institutions paving the way for educators to address the subject of
moral development in children. Another
contribution to moral development by Kohlberg is the entrance of moral dilemmas
which measured give one a score on the moral development scale. While this is
not the definitive method for understanding of moral development it provided a
standard base to work from for future researchers to start.

Limitations
of Kohlberg’s Theory

Kohlberg’s theory is concerned with moral thinking, but
there is a difference between knowing what we should do over actual actions.
His theories were based on research and interviews with children and he was not
interested in whether they were wrong or right but their reasoning in their
decisions (Aboutpsychology.com, 2013).
Kohlberg’s research indicates that adults as well as adolescents never
progress beyond the conventional level of moral reasoning; he states that
people are morally underdeveloped (Conger & Peterson, 1991). The second limitation to Kohlberg’s theory is
that he does not take into account the cultural or religious differences in
moral values (Nucci, 2002, pp. 303-325). The considerations of
justice are at the highest level of moral reasoning.

When
it was discovered that monks placed a high moral value on lessening suffering
and showing compassion it was noted that these notions did not have a place in
Kohlberg’s structure of moral development (Morris & Maisto, 2005).
Religion plays an important part in a person’s moral development and that
religion was a factor in decision making. Kohlberg’s theory has been noted as
sexist, he found that boys tested higher than girls on test of moral
development (Morris & Maisto, 2005).
Boys are more inclined to base their judgments on the theoretical
concept of justice while girls based their concepts on the caring aspect.
Neither of these views should be seen as one being greater than the other
(Morris & Maisto, 2005).

He believed that people could only progress on the stages
one at a time and not go from one to another and skipping the middle stage.
Somewhere the good/bad stage had to be gone through in order to reach the next
one. It is important that a moral dilemma had to occur so the person could
encourage their reasonableness of a higher morality and move their development
in that direction. Kohlberg believed that moral decisions were based on social
interactions (Morris & Maisto, 2005).

Carol
Gilligan and Challenges to the Theory

Carol
Gilligan is an American feminist, ethicist and best known for her work on
ethical community, ethical relationships, and certain subject- object problems
in ethics. She interviewed women who were contemplating abortion and studied
women’s psychology and girl’s development. Carol Gilligan became a research
assistant for Lawrence Kohlberg. Kohlberg
is known for his research on moral development and his stage theory of moral
development in justice and rights (Olsen, 2011). Gilligan criticized Kohlberg’s work.

She
based it on two things, that he only studied privileged, white men and boys,
she felt, that this caused a biased opinion against women, and secondly in his
stage theory of moral development, the male view of individual rights and rules
was considered a higher stage than women’s point of view of development, in the
terms of its caring effect on human relationships. She listened to women and re
think the meaning of self and selfishness. She asked four questions about
women’s voices: who is speaking, in what body, telling what story, and in what
cultural framework is the presented? (Gilligan, 1982) She outlines three stages
of moral development progressing from selfish, to social or conventional
morality. Gilligan asserted that women have differing moral and psychological
tendencies than men.

Conclusion

Gilligan
understands of moral reasoning as a kind of perception has its roots in the
conception of moral experience and that the two perspectives are not mutually
exclusive once we recognize the attention (Kyte, 1996). The dispute over the validity and importance
of Kohlberg’s research centers on the gender and cultural differences that did
not reach consideration in the longitudinal study, as his sample consisted of a
group of white privileged boys which he re-interviews many times over the
course of their lives. As Dawson (2002) points out, there is applicable
validity in terms of educational value and teaching moral development by
educators because when applied research finds minimal differences in gender. Culturally, differences in morality do exist and
influence us.

This
happens in the pre-cognitive and cognitive stages, as we learn to obey the
rules of our close worlds then our society. This is the level that cultural
differences in moral reasoning and behavior remain evident to have the greatest
influence on us. Points to ponder for future
research is the effect of globalism, diversity, and multiculturalism on the
applicability of Kohlberg’s original research, as cultures and genders blending
together shrink the gap in differences caused by this globalization. Will the differences in societal cultures
still be as noticeable particularly in areas of moral development? As we change
societal views on gender stereotyping will these differences matter, especially
with research supporting that girls who were traditionally not supposed to play
with boy toys, remain. Currently the main societal change in gender
stereotyping arena concerns the rights to marry. Some women in society look, act and dress
like males, and the reverse is also present in males. Bearing this in mind, it seems likely that
gender stereotyping might be a learned behavior passed on for many
generations.

Share This

Our Project

Pageviews

Follow by Email

C&J Charity Donations

Everyone is a victim of bullying and police misconduct whether directly or indirectly!

Criminology & Justice Digital Media U.S. Inc is dedicated to providing educational, scientific, and charitable contributions in the social science and criminal justice fields, to include victim and family issues, research, and criminal justice related charities, through digital media, presentations, charity drives, and scientific research funding.

Lawrence Daly New Novel

Available in Paperback and Kindle

Now Available!

In the small town of Kent, just south of Seattle in Washington State there is a child serial rapist and murderer who has targeted young girls. Over an eight-year period, Victor has abducted, raped and murdered 12 young girls. Detectives Simon Stocker and Gus Hall begin the chase of Victor. Just when he appears to have disappeared, he abducts 12 year-old Brittany Redman and the chase is on again.

With the assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and other law enforcement agencies, a task force is established to chase Victor down. Victor’s method of operandi is to abduct his victims and then they are found 72 hours later, dead.

The time to save Brittany is running out, Detectives Stocker, and Hall pull out all the stops to save her life. Will they be in time?

About Lawrence W. Daly

Lawrence W. Daly is the author of multiple sex crime non-fiction books and booklets. Lawrence is one of the leading experts in the field of child sexual abuse investigations. Chasing Victor is his newest adventure. This debut novel, an exciting thriller will keep you on your toes, wondering who Victor might be, and whether Detectives Stocker and Hall will succeed in chasing Victor down. A must read!

Paperback Edition

Kindle Edition

Get Your Copy Here Today! A Great Read Which Keeps You Enthralled the Entire Story!

Links 2

Quotes

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. ~ Edmund Burke

That which we persist in doing becomes easier to do, not that the nature of the thing has changed but that our power to do has increased. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

An informed citizenry is the only true repository of the public will. ~ Thomas Jefferson

Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase ~ Martin Luther King Jr.

Here's to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes... the ones who see things differently -- they're not fond of rules... You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can't do is ignore them because they change things... they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do. ~Steve Jobs US computer engineer & industrialist (1955 - 2011 )